Putnam County Honors Memory Of Firefighter From The Rockaways

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Putnam County officials took the unusual step of spotlighting lighting the historic courthouse in red this week in memory of Timothy Klein, a firefighter from the Rockaways who was killed Sunday in a fire in Canarsie.

SEE: FDNY Firefighter Dies After Ceiling Collapse In Brooklyn Blaze

In a news release, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said it was a great loss.

"Firefighters routinely put their lives on the line to help total strangers. In times like this we are reminded that we should be grateful for their service every single day," she said in the statement.

Klein, 31, died, and eight other firefighters were injured, after a fire quickly consumed a home along Avenue N in Canarsie, city officials said.

Klein, a six-year FDNY veteran, is the 1,157th department member to die in the line of duty. He grew up in Queens and graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School. He is survived by his father — retired FDNY Firefighter Patrick Klein — his mother, Diane, and his three sisters, authorities said. He was assigned to Ladder Company 170 but worked in Engine Company 257 during the fire, officials said.